I'm in Hell

[vidkid123]

DVD Shrink, though a simple, yet powerful program, isn't giving me reliable results ( see http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51406 ). DVD95Copy was recommended as the next best thing to a simple, yet powerful copier. This appears to be the case if you are copying the entire movie. However, I want to simply split a DVD with 4 episodes to two DVDs, no menus. With DVD Shrink, this was SO EASY (if playback always worked correctly, I'd be in Heaven and not need to post this).

Can someone please point me in the right direction of some clear instructions on how to just copy the episodes I want? I've found a lot of instructions, but none seem to specifically address episdoes. I guess it is the equivalent of simply removing menus and extras (simply? ya right). I'm guessing I have to use IFOEdit before going to DVD95Copy. The IFOEdit guides are so complicated though. What a bummer. Should I just buy Pinnacle Instant Copy and be done with it?

This DVD stuff is turning out to be a very time consuming, pain in the ass endeavor and I usually pick stuff up like this very quick. I don't have all this time to waste with trial and error and I've been reading these forums and this site for several days now!

[vidkid123]

You know what, after sifting through this thread -> http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29598 I am even more depressed. Looks like I have lots of company in hell. Heck, I'm at the point now where DVD Shrink is SO freakin easy to reauthor with only the episodes (PGCs) you want without the menus, I'm about to just say screw it and put up with the crapy quality and stuttering motion.

[vidkid123]

One simple way I've seen may be to use DVD Toolbox (the tool from Germany) to just select the PGCs you want to use. Unfortunately, when I click Execute on DVD Toolbox I get an Exception Error (running Windows XP Pro SP1). Just my luck. I need a drink. I love having a thread discussion with myself though. :)

[The_Flash]

Hi!

(I felt sorry for you)

[mrbass]

Originally posted by vidkid123
I've found a lot of instructions, but none seem to specifically address episdoes. I guess it is the equivalent of simply removing menus and extras (simply? ya right). Should I just buy Pinnacle Instant Copy and be done with it?


Yes, just buy Instant Copy for 1:1 episode dvds. I did C.S.I Season One Disc 1 (four episodes) with Instant Copy and you could tell but for many it's acceptable quality. Instant Copy would do way better quality wise than dvdshrink, dvd2one, dvd95copy could with 8GB of video. If I had brains and tons of time (I have neither..ok sometimes the latter) I'd do doitfast4u, docce4u, reauthorist, scenarist method as that'd be the best but I do hope to some day when it gets simplified maybe just a tad more.

[vidkid123]

I ended up pulling it off by using DVD Decrypt in IFO mode. Wrote each PCG (one for each episode) out separately and then used VBOEdit and IFOEdit to combine the VBO files and create the IFO files. What a pain. It fixed the stuttering that DVD Shrink was producing but the quality is still not as good as the original.

The other plausible method was to use the 2 DVD split function in Ifoedit, especially if you want to keep the menus. However I didn't like the fact it basically requires you to put double the amount of files on your hard drive at one point.

For the second two episodes I went back to using DVD Shrink and there was no stuttering. Go figure. I'm not going through the ridiculous DVD Encrypt->VBOEdit->IFOEdit process again - totally ridiculous unless your are a digital video nerd with lots of time on your hands.

I've gathered from the forums that Instant Copy has the best picture quality but if it can't let you selectively pick epidosdes (pick PCGs) then it ain't for me (at least as far as multi-episode DVDs)

What a waste of an entire day. There is a very steep learning cuvre with this stuff primarily due to the lack of one an adequate, comprehensive tool. Good luck to those who will follow in my footsteps and those who have gone before me.

[mrbass]

C.S.I Season One Disc 1 (four episodes) ...well you could split the four episodes to two dvd-rs keeping 100% quality of video (no compression). No menus.

Just add episode 1 and episode 2 with reauthor in dvdshrink and burn DVD#1. Then for DVD#2 add episode 3 and 4. Both dvds will be around 3.77GB.

[syphix]

CSI's out on DVD?? I'll have to lookout for that...

[syphix]

Oh...and sorry to hear of your troubles, I've never seen problems with DVDshrink....but I don't "crop" (only re-encode or re-author).